Nik Turner — the English musician known for his work as a founding member of Hawkwind, and with outfits including Inner City Unit, Sphynx and Space Ritual — has died. News of Turner's death was shared today via his Facebook page, confirming he "passed away peacefully at home on Thursday evening" (November 10). He was 82.
"We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Nik Turner - The Mighty Thunder Rider," the statement reads. "He has moved onto the next phase of his Cosmic Journey, guided by the love of his family, friends and fans. Watch this space for his arrangements."
Born in Oxford in 1940, Turner first met future bandmate and Hawkwind mastermind Dave Brock in Amsterdam while working as a roadie. As he owned a van, Turner first got in with Brock's group as a driver, but became a full-fledged member upon the others discovering his talents on the saxophone.
Turner's first stint with Hawkwind, from 1969 to 1976, saw him contribute sax, vocals and flute during what would stand as the space rock outfit's most commercially and critically successful period, writing songs like "Brainstorm" and earning co-writes on compositions including "Master of the Universe." He would later rejoin the band for a brief stint in the '80s.
Those preliminary years with Hawkwind would overlap with those of young bassist-vocalist and future Motörhead leader Lemmy Kilmister. In tribute, Motörhead's official Facebook account shared a photo of Turner at Lemmy's funeral in 2016 with the caption, "Play some Hawkwind nice and loud! Brainstorm here we go!"
Following his flight from Hawkwind, Turner would form the band Sphynx following a holiday in Egypt where he recorded himself playing flute in the King's Chamber of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Those tapes would appear on the band's 1978 album Xitintoday, for which Turner adapted his lyrics from the Egyptian Book of the Dead.
Turner's Sphynx would evolve into Inner City Unit, a group that would marry the ex-Hawkwind member's spacey tendencies with emergent punk styles on four studio albums released over five years in the 1980s.
Turner later formed Space Ritual in 2000 with former members of Hawkwind, playing a mix of original compositions and early Hawkwind material. The artist also collaborated with the likes of Jello Biafra, Psychic TV's Genesis P-orridge, UK Subs guitarist Nicky Garrett, Doors guitarist Robby Krieger, Gong's Steve Hillage, Amon Düül II founder John Weinzierl and many more.
"We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Nik Turner - The Mighty Thunder Rider," the statement reads. "He has moved onto the next phase of his Cosmic Journey, guided by the love of his family, friends and fans. Watch this space for his arrangements."
Born in Oxford in 1940, Turner first met future bandmate and Hawkwind mastermind Dave Brock in Amsterdam while working as a roadie. As he owned a van, Turner first got in with Brock's group as a driver, but became a full-fledged member upon the others discovering his talents on the saxophone.
Turner's first stint with Hawkwind, from 1969 to 1976, saw him contribute sax, vocals and flute during what would stand as the space rock outfit's most commercially and critically successful period, writing songs like "Brainstorm" and earning co-writes on compositions including "Master of the Universe." He would later rejoin the band for a brief stint in the '80s.
Those preliminary years with Hawkwind would overlap with those of young bassist-vocalist and future Motörhead leader Lemmy Kilmister. In tribute, Motörhead's official Facebook account shared a photo of Turner at Lemmy's funeral in 2016 with the caption, "Play some Hawkwind nice and loud! Brainstorm here we go!"
Following his flight from Hawkwind, Turner would form the band Sphynx following a holiday in Egypt where he recorded himself playing flute in the King's Chamber of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Those tapes would appear on the band's 1978 album Xitintoday, for which Turner adapted his lyrics from the Egyptian Book of the Dead.
Turner's Sphynx would evolve into Inner City Unit, a group that would marry the ex-Hawkwind member's spacey tendencies with emergent punk styles on four studio albums released over five years in the 1980s.
Turner later formed Space Ritual in 2000 with former members of Hawkwind, playing a mix of original compositions and early Hawkwind material. The artist also collaborated with the likes of Jello Biafra, Psychic TV's Genesis P-orridge, UK Subs guitarist Nicky Garrett, Doors guitarist Robby Krieger, Gong's Steve Hillage, Amon Düül II founder John Weinzierl and many more.
